Disaster is bound to strike at any moment. It’s how we respond to this adversity that our true strength manifests.
This past October, hurricane Delta made waves over the news as projections showed a path towards Cancun, Mexico. A tough time was looming ahead, but the strength of the people would prove to be even tougher.
How tough exactly? Just ask Ricardo Pimental, who has a household of 300 dogs along with other animals who were under his protection through the natural disaster.
Pimental had to assure the safety of each and every one of his 300 furry pals, no matter the cost.
After all, his life’s work has been to become the Founder of Tierra De Animales and help protect hundreds of stranded animals with no shelter. It should be noted that the young Cancun native is not your typical animal lover.
Astoundingly, Pimental has cared for over 500 animals in 9 years!
Some of the types of animals that have been under Pimental’s care include stray cats, dogs, chickens, turkeys, horses, sheep, pigs, cows, and donkeys.
When news broke of an imminent hurricane, the caring shelter owner decided to take action, since time was running out quickly.
The reality hit when he realized that the shelters weren’t strong enough to withstand a Category 4 hurricane.
Pimental had to move and fast! The trajectory of the storm seemed to increase every day and had no plans of slowing down. The only thing he could do was unthinkable: have a slumber party at his house.
“We decided to put almost all the dogs inside the house, simply because we don’t fully trust in the shelters that we currently have because they aren’t hurricane-proof.” Pimentel told The Dodo.
The clock was still ticking and the feat of bringing in 300 dogs was no small task.
Pimental and his crew of volunteers quickly assisted in herding the pups inside his home. The entire ordeal took about 5 hours, but thankfully, they were able to be successful before the storm made landfall.
“We had to bring them in on leash two by two,” Pimentel said. “Some of them are afraid or don’t know how to walk on a leash, so we had to carry them to the house, but in the end, it was worth it because they are all safe.”
The shelter owner made sure the house was well stocked with everything from food to necessary supplies that would last through a typical hurricane crisis.
The only thing left to do was to wait, sit tight, and brace for impact.
You’d think with that many animals it would easily get messy. Luckily, Pimental was satisfied in knowing the pups seemed to be getting along. He managed to take care of any needs the animals would’ve had, as well sacrifice some of his rest to make sure everyone was well-tended.
By the grace of nature, the storm downgraded to a Category 2 by the time it Cancun.
Winds were still lethally clocking in at about 96 mph to 110 mph, but significantly less than what it could’ve been.
The team’s effort to protect the dogs and animals proved a huge success!
Unfortunately, not all was spared, as the structure of the shelter itself was left devastated by the hurricane. Despite much of the property and local areas left destroyed in the wake of the aftermath, Pimental remains optimistic about the future.
His selfless act of kindness has inspired praise with some even offering donations as a way to show support. He plans to use these donations to build a hurricane-proof facility that will allow his animals to roam safely all year round.
It’s rare to find humans as kind and generous as Ricardo Pimental.
If you are interested in donating to the animals of Tierra De Animales, then make sure to follow them on their Instagram page!
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